White Collar Crimes
Fresno White-Collar Crimes Lawyer
White-collar crimes are serious crimes that require representation by a white-collar crime defense lawyer. These crimes typically do not involve the use of force or violence. White collar crimes are usually committed by business people, professionals or entrepreneurs, and are driven by profit or personal gain as a motive.
The term “white collar crimes” come from the outdated assumption that these crimes are typically committed by executives and other so-called “white-collar workers,” as compared to blue-collar crimes like murder and rape that were believed to be committed by blue-collar workers.
White-collar crimes include a range of offenses that do not include violence and are usually related to illegal business transactions. According to the Department of Justice, white-collar crimes typically involve deception, concealment, deceit, subterfuge, breach of trust, or illegal circumvention.
Examples of white-collar crimes include:
- Insurance fraud
- Health care fraud
- Securities fraud
- Credit card fraud
- Commercial fraud
- Mail fraud
- Wire fraud
- Counterfeiting
- Forgery
- Extortion
- Perjury
- Tax evasion
- Larceny
White-collar crimes may be prosecuted either by the federal or state government. However, most white-collar crimes tend to be federal crimes. The federal government is better equipped with the resources to deal with most white-collar crimes, especially those that occur on a large scale. For instance, when a white-collar crime has had a statewide, nationwide or even an international scope, the case may benefit from the kind of resources that federal prosecutors bring to it.
Persons convicted of white-collar crimes may face a variety of penalties. However, in most white-collar crimes, the prosecutor will seek restitution as part of the punishment. When properly represented by an experienced white-collar criminal defense lawyer, many white-collar crimes do not end in any jail time, although this will depend on the case.